Elderly man with dementia died after being left alone by carers for FIVE DAYS without food or drink

Carers left an elderly man with dementia alone for five days
without food or drink before he was found collapsed on the floor of his
bungalow, an inquest heard.

Harry Denton, 81, a former chief clerk in the Army pay corps,
should have been visited three times a day and had his meals and drinks
provided by staff from privately-run AJB Care.

But when Mr Denton did not answer the carers' knocks at the
door, nobody from the company alerted relatives or took action to gain
access.

His daughter became concerned when his phone was constantly
engaged. She rang the company and was told that carers had visited and
he was fine.

However, when the problem continued she contacted neighbours
and relatives, who found Mr Denton had collapsed. He died a day later
in hospital from pneumonia.

The Daily Mail's Dignity for the Elderly campaign has
highlighted failings in the care system for pensioners unable to look
after themselves.

The Sheffield inquest heard that Mr Denton had Alzheimer's
disease and poor mobility following knee surgery, but was proud and
determined to continue living an independent life at his home in
Hoyland, South Yorkshire.

He had his last proper visit from carers on New Year's Eve,
though records showed that staff briefly gained entry on January 1 for
a few minutes to show Mr Denton where his medication was.

His daughter Pauline Anderson, who lives in Cheshire, spoke to
him on the phone on January 2. The next day when his phone was engaged
all the time she rang AJB and was told everything was all right.

But when he failed to respond on January 4, family members
were sent to gain access. They found Mr Denton on the floor with red
marks on his back consistent with radiator burns.

Two coffee mugs in the kitchen sink were believed to have been
there since the visit by carers on New Year's Eve. Mrs Anderson, 55, an
Open University associate lecturer in health and social care, told the
inquest: 'There was no evidence he had anything to eat or drink since
New Year's Eve. He wasn't able to look after himself.'

Carer Gillian Barton admitted that for three days Mr Denton
did not answer the door when she and a colleague called. Coroner Chris
Dorries asked her: 'Did it occur to you he might be lying in the house
unable to open the door?' She replied: 'I thought there must be
something not right.'

When Mr Denton was found collapsed it is alleged that a
witness overheard Miss Barton say to a fellow carer: 'It looks like
we're in trouble here.'

AJB care manager Jane Hollingworth, who was told of the failed
visits, said they should have been treated as an emergency. When asked
by the coroner about her lack of concern she admitted it was a 'serious
and significant failure'.

The company was paid £270 a week to visit Mr Denton three
times a day, seven days a week. The bill was split between Mr Denton
and Barnsley Council's social services department, which recommended
AJB to the family.

The inquest was adjourned to a later date.

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Elderly man with dementia died after being left alone by carers for five days without food or drink, inquest hears